Spain enter the 2026 World Cup as the +450 betting favourites — and with good reason. They won Euro 2024, finished runners-up in the UEFA Nations League, and carry arguably the deepest squad in international football right now. France (+470) and England (+650) are close behind, with Brazil at +850 rounding out the top four in the outright market.
The tournament kicks off on Thursday, June 11, and for the first time ever, 48 teams will compete across 12 groups — up from 32 teams in Qatar. Thirty-two sides advance to the knockout stage, with the top two from each group joined by eight wild cards. The final takes place on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The groups that will shape the betting market
Group D is where the Americans face their sternest test. Turkey (-175 to top the group) are the highest-ranked side in Group D at world No. 13, nudging the USA — who are No. 14 — into second favourites at +140. Australia and Paraguay round it out. This is a group where all four teams genuinely believe they can qualify, which makes every game a nervous watch and a volatile betting proposition.
Spain's path looks considerably kinder. They headline Group H alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, with odds of -450 to top the group. After winning the 2008 Euros they went on to lift the World Cup in 2010 — a pattern that will not be lost on the more historically-minded bettor.
France (-230) sit in Group I against Norway, Senegal and Iraq. Erling Haaland and Norway at +275 represent a credible threat to an upset, but Les Bleus have too much quality to drop points there. Kylian Mbappé — Golden Boot winner in 2022 with eight goals — arrives off a 25-goal league season at Real Madrid. He's the standout individual betting option before a ball is kicked.
Brazil (-370 in Group C) are the heaviest group-stage favourites in the tournament. Morocco (+370) are the only realistic challengers after their stunning semi-final run in Qatar, but the five-time world champions have not failed to reach the quarter-finals since 1990. That consistency is worth something when you're weighing outright value.
Germany sit as -310 favourites in Group E despite being knocked out in the group stage in both 2018 and 2022. Their Euro 2024 quarter-final run domestically showed signs of a revival — they're not a team to write off, even if the odds of a third consecutive group-stage exit can't be entirely dismissed.
Key teams and stars to watch
- Spain (+450): Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Pedri lead a squad that has won every major tournament they've entered since 2020. The form team in world football.
- France (+470): Mbappé is the story, but this squad runs deep — Tchouaméni, Saliba, Dembélé. They've been to the last two finals. Hard to bet against them going deep again.
- England (+650): Harry Kane leads them for the third time. Jude Bellingham takes on a bigger role after an underwhelming 2022. They've been building toward this for a decade — the squad depth is genuinely among the best in the world.
- Argentina (+850 outright): Defending champions. Messi leads them again at what is almost certainly his final World Cup appearance. They won Copa America 2024 and topped CONMEBOL qualifying. Don't expect them to quietly disappear in Group J.
- Brazil (+850): Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Neymar returning — the attacking firepower is elite. The question, as ever with Brazil, is whether the pieces fit together when the pressure arrives in the knockout rounds.
- Portugal (+1000): Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, makes his sixth World Cup appearance. He's never finished better than fourth. This is the last realistic chance — and Portugal's squad, with Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias, is arguably the strongest he's ever had around him.
- USA (+2000): Christian Pulisic at AC Milan is the fulcrum. The hosts get automatic qualification and a difficult Group D draw. Making the knockout stage feels like the baseline expectation; anything beyond the quarter-finals would be a genuine surprise.
- Morocco (+2200): The 2022 semi-finalists are in Group C with Brazil. Getting out of that group is the first challenge — but if they do, Hakimi, Amrabat and the defensive structure that neutralised Belgium, Spain and Portugal three years ago are still largely intact.
Best sportsbook offers for 2026 World Cup betting
Several major US sportsbooks are running sign-up promotions ahead of the tournament. Here's what's currently available for new users:
- FanDuel Sportsbook: Bet $5 for 7 days, get $350 in bonus bets. No promo code required.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets instantly after your first qualifying wager settles as a win. Paid as eight $25 slips within 72 hours.
- BetMGM (code: CBSSPORTS): Up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses. Users in NJ, WV, PA or MI can alternatively get $150 in bonus bets on a winning first bet of $10+.
- Caesars (code: CBSDYW): Bet $1 and get 100% profit boosts on your next 10 wagers.
- bet365: Bet $10, get $365 in bonus bets — win or lose. Bonus bets expire after seven days and must be claimed within 30 days of signing up.
- Fanatics (code: CBSFAN): 10 bet matches up to $100 each over 10 days, or a 100%+ profit boost token for five days. Not available in New York.
- Hard Rock Bet: Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. No specific code required.
Types of bets available
The World Cup offers more betting markets than almost any other tournament on the calendar. The basics — three-way money line (win/draw/win), draw no bet, and over/under on total goals — are available on every match. The standard total is 2.5 goals, making over/under one of the most straightforward entry points for casual bettors.
Beyond match betting, the outright markets are where the real interest lies. Tournament winner, Golden Boot, group winner, and 'to reach X round' all carry live pricing throughout the competition. The Golden Boot market is worth watching early — in recent tournaments, strikers from teams that reach the semi-finals have dominated, which makes the early knockout rounds a good time to reassess value.
Both teams to score (BTTS) is consistently one of the most popular markets in international football, particularly in the group stage when teams are still chasing results rather than managing leads. Goal scorer props — first goalscorer, anytime scorer, and multi-goal markets — round out the player-level options.
The 48-team format means 104 matches in total, running from June 11 through to the final on July 19. That's 104 opportunities to find an edge — or burn through a bankroll. Pace yourself accordingly.
